Tom: In our last article, I made a wish for my phone to ring. Did my wish come true? Well, have you ever watched that really bad movie with Brendan Fraser and Elizabeth Hurley called Bedazzled? You know, where Elizabeth Hurley is the Devil, who gives Brendan Fraser's character seven wishes? He keeps making the same mistake of not being specific enough with each wish, and his life becomes an utter disaster? That's me.
Yes, universities began to call me, but the calls were not from physics departments in proximity to any of the law schools where Helen was interviewing or for that matter, from places that had law schools to assist Helen in getting a job. So here I am, excited that any departments are calling me at all and feeling better about the strength of my application and my ability to make shortlists, but completely dejected because none of these departments are real possibilities for me. Is it too late to make another wish?
Helen: Tom is feeling hopeless, but I am feeling hopeful -- for both of us. I've been lucky enough to receive offers from a few law schools, and I am confident that Tom will receive even more calls from institutions, some of which are bound to be near my prospects. After all, it's early for him. The hiring process in physics is just beginning, and if his start is any sign of his future, we are in good shape.
We just need time for Tom's process to get into full swing. The only problem is we may not have the time. Some of my offers need immediate answers. One of them is even from a university on my dream list, and it wants an answer, but Tom is unlikely to hear definite news any time soon. Do I ask for an extension? Or if I'm forced to choose, do we select a city where Tom has the most opportunities with the hope that one of them will pan out? I'm not much of a gambler.
Tom: We were in this limbo for a while, until finally my luck started to change. I got the call, or should I say, calls for interviews. Helen and I now have at least two potential academic matches. I landed an interview for a research faculty position at one of the universities where Helen has received a tenure-track offer.
Also, with the help of one of the law schools that is recruiting Helen, I have received an interview for a multiyear visiting position that has a strong possibility of becoming a tenure-track job. OK, so these options do not exactly fulfill our dream of getting two tenure-track jobs in the same area, but beggars cannot be choosers. Maybe this time, I was closer to making the right wish.
Helen: Just right, it seems to me. We did it. Actually, Tom did it. He managed to receive an offer for both the research faculty position and the multiyear visiting position. So now, we have not just one but two matches. We are ecstatic. We cannot believe that we have jobs in the same city, let alone the same universities. But I have to admit I'm feeling a little guilty. Our options are not exactly perfect for Tom. I want more time. I want Tom to have time to explore tenure-track opportunities, but I'm receiving some pressure to respond to my offers. If we have to select a university, how do we reach a decision?
Our previous discussions never even got this far. We never imagined having a choice. We never talked about what factors would outweigh others in our decision or what benefits we'd want to negotiate. What questions should we ask about the university, the faculty, and the community? Should we visit these campuses and cities as a family? But most of all, should we accept the offers now, ask for extensions, or roll the dice?
Tom: We feel absolutely confused right now. Are we being spoiled brats? Am I being a spoiled brat? I'm just not ready to accept these offers. I'm still feeling unsettled. We need to visit the cities to see if we can live there, research schools for our children, and ask the tough questions from faculty members.
Luckily, the universities were kind enough to give us extensions. Only since then, our lives have become even more complicated. I have received more job interviews, some in cities where there was no possible match for Helen, but one at a university where Helen had a tenure-track offer and another at a college within commuting distance from another university where Helen had an offer. Is it possible to have too much of a good thing?
